Busting Brackets
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NCAA Tournament 2017: Who was snubbed on Selection Sunday?

By Connor Hope

Mar 8, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Jim Boeheim reacts as he coaches against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Jim Boeheim reacts as he coaches against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 4, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Illinois State Redbirds center Daouda Ndiaye (4) reaches for a ball going out of bound during the first half of a game against the Southern Illinois Salukis during the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Illinois State Redbirds center Daouda Ndiaye (4) reaches for a ball going out of bound during the first half of a game against the Southern Illinois Salukis during the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Illinois State Redbirds

The Illinois State Redbirds are the most obvious team to be snubbed in this year’s bracket. The Redbirds were a predictable snub, but that does not change their situation.

Illinois State’s non-conference slate was rough, as the Redbirds finished with a 9-5 record against a relatively easy schedule. They did, however, turn their season around, going 17-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference before losing to Wichita State in the conference championship.

The Redbird’s 33rd ranked RPI makes them the highest ranked team to miss the tournament. In fact, fourteen at-large bids have lower RPIs than Illinois State.

Illinois State would have been a fun team to watch. The team’s sixth-ranked defense by point-per-game average would have been a tough draw for any school. Illinois State will be one of the best teams in the NIT and are a deserving 1-seed in that tournament.

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